Our History

Reference in health, with an eye to the future, since 1959

Taking better care of people has been at the center of everything we do for over 60 years.
That same commitment still drives us to continue to innovate and improve society today.

Joaquim Chaves Saúde has been at the forefront of laboratory diagnostic since 1959, with a proven track record as a healthcare service provider.

Our journey spans more than half a century.
It has always been our priority to make healthcare accessible and convenient for everyone. That’s why we keep investing in technology and in the continuous improvement of our services, to ensure that our clients receive fast and accurate results and unparallel treatment.

With new sample collection units, laboratories, and clinics across the country, we are now closer to the communities we serve. Today, we have around 400 sample collection units, central laboratories in various regions of the country and a main laboratory in Lisbon (CORE), a benchmark in healthcare technology.

Besides our laboratory expertise, we focus on Médical Oncology to ensure patients have access to the latest technologies and cancer treatments, providing them with the greatest possible comfort. Our scope also includes Fitness, with our first space opening in Restelo, Lisbon.

Despite our growth, we remain committed to a welcoming and attentive approach, providing a 360º healthcare service based on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. At Joaquim Chaves Saúde, we consider ourselves to be more than a healthcare group. We are dedicated to improving and humanizing the health and well-being of all those we serve.

Founder

“
We started out a very small team. More than 60 years later, we are around 3000 people!”

Dr. Joaquim Chaves, founder of JCS, recalls the start of the company. The laboratory opened in the 60s in Mafra and lay the foundations for the brand’s success.

Dr. Joaquim Chaves

Founder of JCS

“
Here are certain techniques that only we do in Portugal.”

State-of-the-art techniques and technology have earned JCS a reputation as a provider of exceptional healthcare services that inspire the trust of physicians and clients alike.

Dr. Joaquim Chaves

Founder of JCS

“
If JCS is a great brand, it owes it to its employees.”

At Joaquim Chaves Saúde, commitment and knowledge are behind every achievement and professionals are recognized for their important contributions to the future of healthcare.

Dr. Joaquim Chaves

Founder of JCS

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Dra.Natália Chaves

An entrepreneurial and visionary personality, her career was marked by a remarkable capacity for innovation and business development.

Her spirit of sacrifice led her to give up her vocation as a physiotherapist, and later as a doctor, to dedicate herself to the administrative and organizational management of, at the time, Laboratório Dr. Joaquim Chaves. It was during this period that the company consolidated its position in Mafra and became a benchmark in clinical analysis.

His story is an inspiring testimony to his courage and devotion to a project that he embraced wholeheartedly. Thanks to his determination, generosity, enthusiasm and commitment, Joaquim Chaves Saúde has become a benchmark in the provision of healthcare in Portugal.

Today, his legacy continues to inspire!

Our achivements

A proven track record that sets the foundations for a brighter future.

1959

Dr. Joaquim Chaves Laboratory is the first company of the Group to be incorporated in Mafra, having subsequently moved to Benfica (Lisbon). In 1981, it moved to Miraflores and, more recently, to Carnaxide, in 2020. Its history of more than half a century consolidates a structured evolution, both in terms of technology and the quality of its services.
1998

The first outpatient clinic, Clínica de Miraflores, is created to fill the gap in complementary diagnostic tests and offer new clinical services. Deeply committed to safety, customer trust, and technological innovation, Clínica de Miraflores quickly occupied a prominent place in the outpatient medicine landscape in Portugal.
2002

JCS expands its activity to oncology treatment and opens the Dr. Natália Chaves unit (Carnaxide, Lisbon), which remains a national benchmark.
2006

The Radiotherapy Clinic in Algarve is inaugurated, in partnership with Algarve’s Oncological Association. This clinic provides comprehensive treatment for different types of cancer, so that patients in the south of the country can enjoy a better quality of life.
2008

The reconversion and modernization of the renowned António A. Campos Clinic paved the way to Porto’s Radiotherapy Clinic, specializing in outpatient Radiotherapy treatments.
2009

Madeira’s Radiotherapy Clinic is inaugurated in Funchal, providing Radiotherapy services which were unavailable in the Autonomous Region of Madeira up to that point.
2010

The Radiotherapy Clinic of Santarém is inaugurated, integrated into the Hospital of Santarém and working closely with its Oncology Service. At this clinic, around a thousand cancer patients every year undergo treatments close to their area of residence, reducing the social and psychological costs of traveling to other urban centres.

Also in 2010, Cascais’s Clinic was born, a new outpatient clinic located in the CascaiShopping Shopping Centre. This clinic provides a wide range of medical and surgical specialties, as well as complementary diagnostic tests and other advanced techniques, such as digestive endoscopies and colonoscopies, nursing services and clinical analysis.

In 2010, Centro Médico de Moscavide, a healthcare unit inaugurated in 1979, is integrated into Joaquim Chaves Saúd. It benefits from the clinical excellence, experience and network of JCS clinical analysis clinics, as well as from the close collaboration with other diagnostic units of the Group.
2012

The Dr. Joaquim Chaves Laboratory in Algarve is inaugurated, reinforcing JCS laboratories in the south of the country.
2013

JCS reinforces, once again, its presence in Algarve, with the acquisition of Dra. Maria de Lurdes Rufino Laboratory, in Faro, thus increasing its network of clinical analysis clinics in the national territory.
2014

We implemented our internationalization plan with the acquisition of 80% of a Clinical Analysis laboratory in Maputo, Mozambique. Since then, this laboratory has evolved according to the quality rules that define us, integrating local habits and culture.
2016

Joaquim Chaves Saúde acquires Horácio Guerreiro, LDA., with 3 gastroenterology clinics (two in Faro and one in Olhão). JCS starts also inaugurates Gastroenterology and Medical Clinics in Faro, Faro Medical Clinic and Olhão Medical Clinic. In the same year, the Madalena Paiva Radiotherapy Clinic opened doors in Ponta Delgada (Azores), to respond to the needs of patients in this autonomous region, thus avoiding the need to travel to the mainland.
2017

We acquired Clínica Europa which reopened in 2022 after a complete renovation, as Surgical Clinic of Carcavelos.

Also in 2017, we acquired the Laboratory Victor A. Do Monte Lopes and Mª Teresa B. B. Monte Lopes, LDA. from Vila Viçosa. This unit became the Alentejo Clinical Analysis Laboratory in July 2019. Its activity was transferred to Évora in 2021, where it is currently located.

In the same year, the Entrecampos Clinic was inaugurated.
2018

We acquired a laboratory in the Center – João Cura Soares, AS - which, since December 2019, has been part of the current Centro Clinical Analysis Laboratory.
2019

We acquired another laboratory in the center of Portugal – DELBRAN. It has also part of the current Clinical Analysis Laboratory Center since December 2019.

In 2019, we acquired the Henrique Santos Laboratory, LDA, in Braga, which would go on to become the North Clinical Analysis Laboratory.

Also in this year, we acquired Machado Clinical Analysis, LDA to integrate the Laboratory of Clinical Analyzes in Laboratory of the Azores, in São Miguel (Azores)

This was a year marked by achievements for our laboratories and medical clinics, topped with the opening of the Sintra medical clinic, in the Alegro Sintra shopping centre.
2020

We moved the Clinical Analysis Laboratory from Miraflores to Carnaxide, and opened our CORE building. This building is an architectural and laboratory landmark with the highest technological and scientific equipment.

Also inside the CORE building are our Pathological Anatomy and Medical Genetics Laboratory. This building is also our headquarters.
2021

We opened the Madalena Paiva Radiotherapy Clinic (Angra do Heroísmo) in the Azores.

This year, we also inaugurated our first fitness space, in Restelo, fulfilling our goal of working in prevention.
2022

In the year that marked two decades of working in Oncology, we continued our expansion and inaugurated the Alentejo Radiotherapy Clinic in Évora.

Our History

Reference in health, with an eye to the future, since 1959

Joaquim Chaves Saúde has been at the forefront of laboratory diagnostic since 1959, with a proven track record as a healthcare service provider.

Dra.Natália Chaves

Our achivements

1959

1998

2002

2006

2008

2009

2010

2012

2013

2014

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2018

2019

2020

2021

2022